Award Recipients 2007-2008 » Rob Mieso

Classified Employee of the Month

Meet Rob Mieso, Employee of the Month

He was first hired as a temporary employee for one month with OTI in September 1994,
but since then Rob Mieso has become a "one-man show," according to Cindy Castillo,
director of Financial Aid & Scholarships and one of his nominators for the award.

"He has single handedly developed a vibrant, critical, thoughtful and successful outreach
program for the college," Castillo said. "His work has been highly praised by staff
on campus and by high school counselors."

Mieso has been an employment and training adviser with OTI, the SLAMS program coordinator
(under his leadership the program went from serving 150 students to serving 500),
and now leads De Anza's institutional outreach efforts.

"Outreach now serves more than 50 high schools and hosts a number of major events
on De Anza's campus," Mieso said. "I attribute this success to the wonderful supportive
people I have worked with over the years building collaborations across the campus."

Kathleen Moberg, dean of Admissions and Records, said Mieso's leadership has clarified
the important role outreach has for the college. "Rob has done a phenomenal job of
rebuilding relationships with our partner high schools and developing new relationships
with high schools in the east Side Union High School District," she said. "His collaborative
work style has helped the outreach effort to become much more transparent, effective
and inclusive."

Mieso has heightened De Anza's visibility in the community with limited staff and
resources. "He's brought new life to our outreach efforts, and the campus has embraced
his program by recognizing how important it is to our future," Castillo said.